Corn-harvester.



e. A. FARRALL & c. MAUL.

CORN HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1 I914- CoLqMmA PLANOGRAIH co.,wAsH|NnroN. D. c.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- ATTBRNEY5 Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. A. FARRALL & C. MAUL. CORN'HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. 1914. 1,15%857.

. a: ll?

ENTERS hYfZLQ M ATTEIRNEYEJ G. A. FARRALL & C. MAUL.

CORN HARVESTER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE I9. 1914.

Patented Oct. 26,

INVENTEIRS HTTEIR NEYE! COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 00.. WASHINGTON. b. c.

FEED @TAFE% PATENT @FFlFlE.

GEORGE A. FARRALL AND CHRISTIAN MAUL, 0F BATAVIA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TOTHE JOHNSTON HABVESTER COMPANY, OF BATAVIA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OFNEW YORK.

CORN-HARVESTER.

Application filed June 19, 1914.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Gnonen A. FAnnALL and CHRISTIAN MAUL, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Batavia, in the county of Genesee andState of New York, have in vented new and useful Improvements inCorn-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to corn harvesters and more particularly to amachine of the character which is 1 shown and described in LettersPatent of the United States #tiol'fiol, granted September 11, 1900. Inthe machine of this prior patent the needle and knotter of the bindermechanism are mounted so as to be capable of vertical adjustment foradapting the binding mechanism to gavels or bundles of corn of varyinglength, this mechanism being so organized that the adjustment of theknotter mechanism required dismembering of a considerable number ofparts of the machine, thereby suffering loss of time and inconvenience.Furthermore, in this prior patent the needle and knotter mechanism wereadjusted verti cally independently of each other so that separatemanipulation of these parts was necessary. The organization of thisprior adjusting mechanism was also such that the needle and knottermechanism could only be shifted into one or the other of two positionsfor adapting the binder mechanism either to short or tall corn, noprovision being made for shifting the binder mechanism to anintermediate position for the purpose of adapting the same to corn ofmedium length.

Furthermore, in this prior machine the.

bundle of grain was not firmly supported adjacent to the needle andknotter and the relative position of the needle and knotter during thetying operation was liable to be disturbed by the strain on these partsso that the tying mechanism was liable to be cramped or miss a bundle.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide simple and efficientmeans whereby the needle and knotter mechanism may be quickly,accurately, and conveniently adjusted relatively to each other whenassembling the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means foradjusting the needle and lrnotter mechanism vertically simultaneously sothat after these devices have been once set up in a definite relative'posi-= Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 216, 1915..

Serial No. 846,083.

tion the same will always be retained in this position regardless ofwhether the needle and knotter mechanism are raised or lowered.

A. further object of this invention is to so organize the needle andlrnotter adjusting mechanism that the same can be shifted vertically toany position between two extreme limits for which this adjustingmechanism is designed, thereby enabling the binder mechanism to properlytie the band, twine or cord around bundles of corn which may varyconsiderably in length.

This invention has the further object to provide a firm and reliablesupport for the bundle immediately adjacent to the needle and lmot'terduring the tying operation, and to provide means whereby the needle andknotter mechanism are reliably held in the proper relation to each otherduring the tying operation notwithstanding that these parts may be understrain and thereby avoid cramping of the tying mechanism and 1 alsopreventing imperfect tying or missing of a bundle.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cornharvester embodying our improvements, the same being viewed from thegrainward side of the machine. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary verticaltransverse section thereof, on an enlarged scale, taken in line 22,Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken in line 33,Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section taken in line Jr-t,Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken in line 5-5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6is a detached perspective view of the vertically movable slide orcarriage forming part of the needle adjusting mechanism. Fig. 7 is adetached section view of the screw sleevefor adjusting the needle andlrnotter mechanismrelatively to each other. Fig. 8 is a fragmentaryvertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken in line 88, Fig. 1. Fig. 9is a fragmentary horizontal section taken in line 9-9, Fig. 1, lookingupwardly. Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of the machine. Fig. 11 is ahorizontal section taken in line'11*11, Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a rearelevation, on an enlarged scale, of the knotter mechanism andthe needlecooperating therewith in section.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views. r

1 represents the main frame of the corn harvester which may be of anysuitable construction to support the various movable parts of themachine and which is supported on the ground while being hauled over thesame by means of wheels in the usual and well known manner. On the lowerfront portion of the main frame the same is provided with the usualcutter mechanism 2 whereby the corn stalks are cut ofi'during theforward movement of the machine. Arranged lengthwise on the main frameis the inclined conveyer platform 3 which extends rearwardly from thecutter mechanism on the stubbleward side thereof and has its lowerportion nearer the grainward side of the machine while its upper portionis nearer-the stubbleward side of the machine. Extending rearwardly andstubbleward from the rear end of the conveyer platform is the inclinedbinder deck 4. This deck and the platform together constitute thestubbleward side of the passage or throat through which the stalks passrearwardly through the machine after being severed by the cutter, thegrainward side of'this throat or passage being formed principally by longitndinalbars 5 supported on the adjacent part of the main frame. Inpassing through the throat the corn stalks aresupported at their loweror butt ends by a bottom 6 extending rearwardly and upwardly along therear part of the conveyer platform and the lower part of the binderdeck. I

' The corn stalks are carried in an upright position through this throatfrom the cutter mechanism to the binder mechanism which is mountedadjacent to the binder deck by means of a conveyer mechanism which maybe of any suitable construction but which preferably comprises aplurality of feed belts 7 having their operative stretches pass ingrearwardly through longitudinal slots 8 in the platform and binder deckand provided with feeding teeth or wings 9 which project laterally fromthese belts into the stalk passage or throat so that they engage andwell known character and the same is therefore not shown in thedrawings. This needle is mounted on an upright rock shaft 12 which isarranged on the under or rear side of the binder deck and journaled atits upper and lower ends in stationary bearings 13, 14 arranged on theadjacent part of the main frame. The needle is mounted on this shaft bymeans of a spline 15, as shown in Fig.11, or otherwise, so that theneedle is compelled to rock with this shaft but is capable of slidinglengthwise thereon for the purpose of permitting the needle to beshifted vertically into different positions relatively to the bottom ofthe stalk throat. Various means may be provided for shifting the needleto any point between predetermined limits on its actuating shaft 12 forthe purpose of adapting the needle to the length of the corn which isbeing bound. The preferred means for this purpose which are shown in thedrawings comprise a carriage having a vertical guide sleeve 17 which ismovable vertically on an upright stationary guide rod 18 arranged on themain frame adjacent to the needle shaft 12 and two arms 19, 2Oprojecting laterally from the upper and lower ends of the guide sleeveand provided with eyes or openings which receive the needle shaft 12 atthe upper and lower ends of the hub of the needle, as shown in Figs. 2,5, 6 and 11, whereby upon raising or lowering the carriage the needlewill be compelled to move therewith. The vertical movement of thecarriage and the needle associated therewith is preferably effected bymeans of an upright screw shaft 21 arranged in rear of the binder deckand parallel with the needle shaft and guide rod 18 and ournaled at itsupper and lower ends in suitable bearings on the main frame while itsintermediate part is provided with an external screw thread 22 whichengages with a screw nut or internally threaded lug 23 formed on thelower arm of the needle carriage, as shown in Figs. 2 and 11. Uponturning the screw shaft 21 in one direction the needle carriage will beraised while upon turning this shaft in the opposite direction theneedle carriage will be lowered. The turning of the screw shaft may beeffected either b y applying a wrench of suitable construction to thesquared upper end 24 of the screw shaft or by means of a hori zontalintermediate shaft 25 journaled transversely on the main frameunderneath the throat bottom and connected at its inner end byintermeshing bevel gear wheel 26, 27 with the lower end of the screwshaft 21 while its outer end is constructed to receive a handle or crank28, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 10 or other suitable device forturning the same.

The knotter mechanism may be of the usual and well known constructionthe parts shown in the drawings for locating the same comprising anupright knotter shaft 29 arranged opposite the face of the binder deck,a knotter frame 30 mounted loosely on the knotter shaft opposite thebinder needle, upper and lower knotter cams 31, 32 arranged on theknotter shaft above and below the knotter frame, and a breast plate 33mounted on the inner part of the knotter frame. The lower part 34 of theknotter shaft is arranged within an upright bearing sleeve 35, theconnection between these parts being of such a character that theknotter shaft is compelled to turn with the bearing sleeve but is freeto slide vertically therewith, this being preferably effected by makingthe lower part of the knotter shaft square in cross section and the boreof the bearing sleeve of corresponding form, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.The bearing sleeve is journaled in an upright bearing or stand ard 36mounted on the main frame and is held against vertical movement by meansof a collar or flange 37 arranged at the upper end of the bearing sleeveand engaging with the upper end of the bearing 36 and a gear wheel 38secured to the lower end of the bearing sleeve and engaging with thelower end of the bearing 36, as shown in Fig. 2. The knotter shaft, thebearing sleeve and the parts associated therewith may be turned in theproper direction for operating the knotter mechanism by any suitablemeans, for instance, by means of a horizontal driving shaft 39 journaledon the main frame below the throat bottom and provided with a bevel gearpinion 40 which meshes with the teeth of the gear wheel 38. By means ofthis connection between the knotter mechanism and the driving mecha nismit is possible to shift the knotter mechanism into any positionvertically between its upper and lower limits to co-incide with theposition of the needle, thereby enabling the binder mechanism to belocated for properly binding bundles of corn stalks which varyconsiderably in length and still permit of placing the band at the mostdesirable place around the same. The vertical adjustment of the knottermechanism may be accomplished by various means those shown in thedrawings being suitable and constructed as follows: ll represents avertically movable yoke provided in front of the knotter shaft with adownwardly projecting tubular shank 42 and at its upper end with arearwardly projecting arm 43 having a sleeve 44: which receives theupper circular part of the knotter shaft between an upwardly facingshoulder as thereon and the underside of the lower knotter cam 32. Thisyoke is also provided with a forwardly projecting arm 46 having anupright guide sleeve 47 which is adapted to slide vertically upon anupright guide rod l8 arranged in front of the yoke and mounted at itslower end on the main frame of the machine. Upon raising or loweringthis yoke the knotter shaft and the parts carried thereby are moved inthe same direction but the knotter shaft and the parts mounted thereonare free to turn independently of this yoke. For greater stability theupper end of the knotter shaft turns and slides in a bearing 49 arrangedabove the knotter mechanism and supported by means of an arm 50 securedto the upper end of the guide rod l8 and projecting rearwardlytherefrom, as shown in Fig. 1.

The front end of the breast plate 33 is adjustable horizontally so thatthe same may be moved toward and from the deck and thereby form apassage of the desired width for the stalks or grain immediatelyadjacent to the tying mechanism. The preferred means for effecting thisadjustment which are shown in the drawings comprise a transverseadjusting rod 330 provided at its inner end with an upright pin 331which pivotally engages a perforated ear or lug 332 on the outer side ofthe front part of the breast plate, a perforated lug or ear 333 arrangedon the upper part of the guide sleeve l7 and receiving the outerthreaded end of the adjusting rod 330 and clamping screw nuts 334-, 335arranged on the screw thread of the adjusting rod 330 and engaging withopposite sides of the lug 333, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9. Upon turningthe screw nuts 331 335 in the proper direction the breast plate may beadjusted transversely of the path of the grain or stalks to suit thecharacter or condition of crop.

t its lower end the shank of the adjusting yoke is provided with aninternal screw thread. which receives the external screw thread 52 of anadjusting screw sleeve 53 the latter being also provided with aninternal screw thread 54 engaging with the external screw thread of anupright adjusting screw shaft The latter is journaled at its lower endin a bearing 56 on the main frame so as to be capable of turning in thisbearing but incapable of sliding axially therein. The adjusting screwsleeve is normally held against turning on the shank of the yoke bymeans of a clamping screw nut 57 engaging with the external thread ofthe adjusting screw sleeve and with the lower end of said shank, asshown in Fig. 2. Upon turning the screw shaft in one direction or theother'the screw sleeve will be caused to ascend or descend and therebyraise or lower the yoke and the knotter mechanism connected therewithaccordingly.

The lead or pitch of the screw threaded connection between the needlescrew shaft 21 and the carriage and between the knotter screw shaft 55and the screw sleeve 53 are preferably the same so that by turning thesetwo screw shafts in unison either in one direction or the other, theneedle and knotter mechanism will be raised and lowered in the samemeasure and always retained in the proper relative position. In order tothus move these two screw shafts in unison the lower end of the knotterscrew shaft 55 ment is preferably efiected by turning the intermediateshaft by means of the crank 28. WVhen, however, the machine is workingin the field and the operator is occupying the seat 60 which is adjacentto the needle,

this simultaneous adjustment of the needle and knotter mechanism may beeffected by the operator applylng a crank, wrench or key to the upperend of the needle screw shaft 21 which is within convenient reach,thereby enabling the operator to adjust the binder mechanism with nicetyto the particular size of corn stalks which are being harvested whilethe machine is running and without losing any time for this purpose.

The'lead or pitch of the screw threaded connection between the adjustingscrew sleeve 53 and the shank of the yoke is comparatively small whilethe lead or pitch of the screw threaded connection between the adjustingscrew sleeve 53 and the adjusting screw shaft 55 is comparatively large.It follows from this construction that upon turning the adjusting screwsleeve 53 relatively to the screw shaft 55 and yoke shank either in onedirection or the otherthe differential in the pitch between these twoscrew connections will cause the yoke to be either raised or lowered onthe screw shaft 55 while the latter is at rest. By this means theknotter mechanism may be accurately adjusted relatively to the needleand then thisv adjusting device may be securely locked againstdisplacement by means of the clamp ing screw nut 57 so that thereafterthe adjusting screw sleeve 53 practically forms an integral'part of theyoke causing the knotter mechanism and needle to rise and fall togetherupon turning either the adjusting shaft 25 by means of the crank 28 orbyturning a crank applied to the upper end of the needle screw shaft 21.

It is desirable to provide means for posi- 'tively locking the tyingmechanism in position after ad ustment so as to prevent accidentaldisplacement and also permit of easily and quickly bringing the tyingmechanism to a predetermined position. Although various means may beemployed for this purpose those shown in the drawings are suitable andpreferred and comprise a spring pressed lockin bolt or pin 4J0 guided ina socket 471 on the lower part of the guide sleeve L7 and adapted tobeyieldingly held by a spring 472 in engagement with one of a plurality ofopenings L73 formed in a row in the guide rod 4-8 and spaced. tocorrespond to the different position into which the tying mechanism isusually adjusted. By withdrawing the bolt L70 from an opening 478 andthen moving the tying mechanism up or down until the same reaches thenext position the bolt is automatically engaged with the next opening473, thereby relocating the tying mechanism without requiring specialattention for this purpose on the part of the operator.

In order to place the band properly around the bundle and with ease andcertainty it is desirable to support the bundle firmly on its front oradvancing side immediately adjacent to the tying mechanism during thetying operation. For this purpose means are provided which arepreferably adjustable simultaneously with the tying mechanism and areconstructed as follows: 60 represents an upright compressor shaftjournaled in suitable bearings on the main frame parallel with theneedle shaft and in rear of the same. 61, G2, 63 represent a pluralityof compressor arms one of which ('31 is mounted on the compressor shaftin line with the tying mechanism preferably adjacent to the needle whilethe others 62, 63 are mounted on this shaft at different distances fromthe needle. The compressor shaft is adapted to be rocked by the pressureof the grain or stalks, against the compressor arms so as to start thetying mechanism with which it is operatively connected and which alsoserves to first swing the compressor arms out of the path of the grainor stalks and then back again across said path. By thus arranging one ofthe compressor arms in line with the needle of the tying mechanism thebundle is held firm at this point while being compressed and permits ofproperly placing the band around the same and with certainty. The lowercompressor arms 62. 63 are preferably nonadjustable on the compressorshaft but the upper compressor arm 61 is capable of vertical adjustmentlengthwise of this shaft so as to permit of always retaining this arm inline with the tying mechanism. purpose the upper compressor arm has itshub 65 provided with a square bore 66 which receives the upper squarepart 67 of the compressor shaft, whereby the compressor arm and shaftare compelled to turn together but the compressor arm is capable ofsliding vertically on the compressor shaft. The tying mechanism and theupper compressor arm are preferably so connected that these parts alwaysmove up and down together and always remain in the same relativeposition. This is preferably accomplished by providing the hub of theupper compressor arm with two segmental coupling flanges 68, 69 whichengage with the upper and lower For this 1;

ends, respectively, of the screw nut 23 of the needle carriage, as shownin Figs. 10 and 11. By means of this construction the com pressor shaftand its arms are free to turn independently of the tying mechanism butwhenever the tying mechanism is raised or lowered the upper compressorarm is caused to move simultaneously therewith, thereby avoiding thenecessity of separately adjusting the respective compressor arm.

Owing to the fact that the knotter mechanism is only supported on thelower part of the frame the knotter mechanism is liable to becomedisplaced slightly relatively to the needle so that these parts becomecramped and bind during the tying operation, particularly when operatingon a large bundle or while harvesting on hilly or uneven ground whichcauses the knotter mechanism to whip or spring relatively to the needle.in order to insure a proper relative positioning of the needle andknotter mechanism during the tying operation, if the same should beslightly displaced, the following means areprovided: 100 represents asegmental retaining rib formed vertically on the needle preferablyconcentrically with the aXis thereof and on the upper side thereof andextending rearwardly from its point or front end, as shown in Figs. 5,10 and 11. In the lower part of the knotter frame adjacent to the outerside of the knotter disk 101 the same is constructed to interlock withthe needle as the latter passes through the knotter frame so as to holdthe knotter mechanism and needle positively in their proper relativeposition both in a vertical direction and in a horizontal directioncrosswise of the path of the stalks or grain. This interlock ispreferably effected by providing the knotter frame with a mainhorizontal recess 102 which extends laterally outward from the motterdisk and receives the main or body portion 103 of the point of theneedle, and a vertical supplemental recess 104 which extends upwardlyfrom the upper wall or side of the main recess and receives theretaining rib of the needle, as shown in Fig. 12. By this means theknotter frame and the parts mounted thereon and the me dle are firmlyinterlocked when the needle passes through the knotter frame and holdsthese parts during the tying operation against vertical displacement byreason of the horizontal upper and lower sides of the main recessengaging with the horizontal upper and lower sides of the needle, andalso against lateral horizontal displacement by reason ofthe verticalfaces of the supplemental recess engaging with opposite vertical sidesof the retaining rib. Cramping of the tying mechanism is thus avoidedand proper tying of the bundles insured under all conditions.

Our improved adjusting mechanism for corn harvesters is very simple inconstruction, the same contains no delicate parts which are liable toget out of order and the same permits of easily and quickly adjustingthe binder mechanism to suit the length of the corn to be harvested.

W e claim as our invention:

1. A harvester comprising a binder deck, means for feeding the stalkspast said deck, a needle arranged on one side ofthe path of said stalks,and a knotter mechanism arranged on the opposite side of said path andcomprising an upright knotter shaft, a bearing sleeve in which saidknotter shaft can slide but is compelled to turn therewith, a bearing inwhich said bearing sleeve can turn but is incapable of sliding therein,and means for turning said bearing sleeve.

2. A. harvester comprising a binder deck, means for feeding the stalkspast said deck, a needle arranged on one side of the path of saidstalks, a knotter mechanism arranged on the opposite side of said pathand comprising an upright knotter shaft, a bearing sleeve in which saidknotter shaft can slide but is compelled to turntherewith, a bearing inwhich said bearing sleeve can turn but is incapable of sliding therein,means for turning said bearing sleeve, and means for rais ing andlowering said knotter mechanism comprising a yoke connected with saidknotter shaft and having a screw nut, an ad justing screw shaft engagingsaid screw nut, and a fixed bearing in which said screw shaft turns butis incapable of axial movement.

3. A harvester comprising a binder deck, means for feeding the stalkspast said deck, a needle arranged on one side of the path of saidstalks, a knotter mechanism arranged on the opposite side of said pathand com prising an upright knotter shaft, a bearing sleeve in which saidknotter shaft can slide but is compelled to turn therewith, a bearing inwhich said bearing sleeve can turn but is incapable of sliding therein,means for turning said bearing sleeve, and means for raising andlowering said knotter mechanism comprising a yoke connected with saidknotter shaft and having a threaded shank, a screw sleeve having anouter screw thread engaging with said threaded shank and also providedwith an inner screw thread, a screw shaft having an external screwthread engaging with the inner thread of said screw sleeve, and a fixedbearing in which said screw shaft turns but is incapable of axialmovement.

4. A harvester comprising a. binder deck, means for feeding the stalkspast said deck, a needle arranged on one side of the path of saidstalks, a knotter mechanism arranged on the opposite side of said pathand comprising an upright knotter shaft, a bearing sleeve in which saidknotter shaft can slide but is compelled to turn therewith, a bearing inwhich said bearing sleeve can turn but is incapable of sliding therein,means for turning said bearing sleeve, and means for raising andlowering said knotter mechanism comprising a yoke connected with saidknotter shaft and having a threaded shank, a screw sleeve having anouter screw thread engaging with said threaded shank andalso providedwith an inner screw thread, a screw shaft having an external screwthread engaging with the innerthread of said screw sleeve, a clampingnut arranged on said screw sleeve and engaging with said yoke, and afixed bearing in which .said screw shaft turns but is incapable of axialmovement. 7

5. A harvester-comprising a binder deck, means for feedingthe stalkspast said deck, a needle arranged on one side of the path of saidstalks, a knotter mechanism arranged on the opposite side of saidpathand comprising an uprightknotter shaft, a bearing sleeve in whichsaidknotter shaft can slide but is compelled to turn therewith, a bearing inwhich said bearing sleeve can turn but is incapable of'slidingtherein,means for turningsaid bearing sleeve, and means for raising'andlowering said knotter mechanism comprising a yoke connected with saidknottershaft and having a threaded shank, ascrew sleeve having an outerscrew thread engaging with said threaded shank and also provided with aninner screw thread, a screw shaft having anexternal screw threadengaging with the inner thread of said screw sleeve, "and a fixedbearing in which said screwshaft turns but is incapable of axialmovement, the screw connection between said sleeve and yoke and betweensaid sleeve and shaft being of different pitches. 6. A harvestercomprisinga binder deck, means for feeding the stalks past said deck,a-needl'e-arranged on one side of thevpath of the stalks, a knottermechanism arranged on the opposite side of said path, means for raisingand lowering said needle and knotter mechanism simultaneously, and meansfor adjusting said knotter mechanism vertically independently of saidneedle.

7. A harvester comprising abinderdeck, means for feedi'ngthe stalks pastsaid deck, a needle arranged on one side of the path of the stalks, aknotter mechanism arranged on theopposite side of said path, means forraisin and lowerin said needle com risin b a carriage connected with theneedle and provided with a screw nut, a screw shaft working in saidnutand capable ofturning but incapable of axial movement, a verticallymovable "yoke connected with the knotter mechanism and provided with aninternally threaded shank, a screw sleeve having an external screwthread engaging with the thread of said shank and also having aninternal thread, a screw shaft having an external thread engaging withthe internal thread of said sleeve, the threads of the screw connectionsbetween said sleeve and yoke and between said sleeve and shaft being ofdifferent pitches, and means for operating said shafts in unison.

8. A harvester comprising a binder deck, means for feeding the stalkspast said deck, a needle arranged on one side of the path of the stalks,a knotter mechanism arranged on the opposite side of said path, meansfor raising and lowering said needle comprising a carriage connectedwith the needle and provided with a screw nut, a screw shaft working insaid nut and capable of turning but incapable of axial movement, avertically movable yoke connected with the knotter mechanism andprovided with an internally threaded shank, a screw sleeve having anexternal screw thread engaging with the thread of said shank and alsohaving an internal thread, a screw shaft having an external threadengaging with the internal thread of said sleeve, the threads of thescrew connections between said sleeve and yoke and between said sleeveand shaft being of different pitches, and means for operating saidshafts in unison comprising an intermediate shaft and intermeshing gearwheels connecting said intermediate shaft with said screw shafts.

9. A harvester comprising a binder mechanism, a deck arranged on oneside of the path of the grain or stalks, a breast plate arranged on theopposite side of'said path, and means for adjusting the breast platetransversely of said path comprising an adjusting rod pivotallyconnected at one end with said breast plate and provided with a threadedportion, a relatively fixed lug which receives the'threaded part of saidrod, and clamping screw nuts arranged on the threaded part of said rodand engaging with opposite sides of said lug.

10. A harvester comprising a tying mechanism movable vertically intodifferent positions, and means for locking "said tying mechanism in oneor the other of saidpositions comprising a guide rod provided with aplurality of openings arranged in a row, a guide sleeve embracing saidrod and connected with said tying mechanism, and a spring bolt arrangedon said sleeve and adapted to engage with one or the other of saidopenings.

11. A harvester comprising a tying mechanism having a needle, avertically movable carriage on whichsaid needle is mounted and which'isprovided with a lug, a compressorshaft, and a compressor arm having ahub which is compelled to turn with said shaft but capable of slidinglengthwise thereon and Which is provided With two segmental flangesengaging With opposite sides of said lug.

12. A harvester comprising a needle, and a knotter mechanism having aframe, said needle and frame being constructed to become interlockedtransversely to the direction of movement of the needle during the tyingoperation and hold the same against displacement relatively to eachother at this time.

18. A harvester comprising a needle provided With a vertical segmentalretaining rib, and a knotter mechanism having a frame provided with amain horizontal re- 15 cess having horizontal upper and lower sidesadapted to engage the upper and lower horizontal sides of the needle anda supplemental recess having vertical sides Which are adapted to engagewith opposite vertical 2o sides of said retaining rib.

Witness our hands this 17th day of June,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

